If there’s one cinematic genre that transcends the humdrum of everyday life, it’s science fiction. Whether it’s exploring the altered nature of our own Pale Blue Dot in another timeline or venturing out into a galaxy far, far away, no other category in Hollywood cinema captures the imagination in such a way.
In fact, one could argue that it presents directors with the biggest and most liberating canvas upon which to project their own idiosyncratic ideas. In extending the parameters of the known, filmmakers have served up some truly awe-inspiring feats across the history of the medium, be it humanity under the rule of a mechanized super race or putting the pedal to the metal on a DeLorean DMC-12 to hit that all-important speed of 88 miles per hour.
And in this golden age of science fiction cinema, fans of the genre have been rather spoilt for choice in this decade alone, with Her, Gravity, and the mind-bending Inception proving that audiences still have a taste for intelligent, inspiring, and ultimately well made science fiction. It’s a trend that shows no slowing down, either, with the likes of Interstellar, Jupiter Ascending, and Ex Machina all set to release in the next twelve months.
So, to celebrate the unbridled creativity that this genre elicits so well, the ever-so-passionate staff at We Got This Covered rallied together to single out the greatest, most memorable science fictions films in history — be they silent masterpieces from a bygone era or recent blockbuster Hollywood releases that favoured brain over brawn. Those releases that linger in your mind long, long after the credits roll.
With that said, join us as we cherry pick the top 100 science fiction films of all time!